Yes, Chef - Behind the Apron

05/10/2026

Thank you, Shane, for letting me share the importance of nourishing the people that nourish us!

Shane McGee talks with Laura Fay and Elaine Zelker, two local members of the hospitality industry who are dedicated to giving back to community.

04/30/2026

If you work in the food industry and you’re running on empty…

I’m hosting a FREE retreat on May 11 at Copper House Events for Yes, Chef - Behind the Apron
No catch. No agenda. Just a day to step away and reset.

We’ve got a few spots left.

If you need it, take it.
👉 Apply here: https://www.yeschefbehindtheapron.com/retreats

Tag someone who should come with you.

RETREATS - Yes, Chef! Behind the Apron

04/14/2026

NOMINATE SOMEONE in the HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY FOR THE MAY 11TH RETREAT (It's FREEEEEE!)
(or step forward yourself)

These retreats are for the people who give everything to this industry—chefs, line cooks, servers, bartenders, managers, dishwashers, hosts, owners… the ones who rarely get a moment to breathe.

If you know someone who deserves rest, support, and a community that truly understands the weight they carry—this is their moment.

Nominate someone you admire, or take the step for yourself.

Spots are limited, and each retreat is intentionally intimate so every person can be seen, heard, and supported.

SIGN UP HERE: https://www.yeschefbehindtheapron.com/retreats

Please SHARE!

RETREATS - Yes, Chef! Behind the Apron

04/06/2026

These just came in… and I’m honestly feeling this one.

Grateful doesn’t even begin to cover it.

A huge thank you to Working Dog Press for bringing these 12x18 posters to life—bold, powerful, and exactly what our industry needs right now.

Because behind every plate…
there’s a person carrying a lot.

“You don’t have to carry this alone.”

If you’re a restaurant in the Lehigh Valley, I want this hanging in your kitchen.
Not for decoration—
for impact.

For the chef who’s pushing through burnout.
For the line cook who’s struggling silently.
For the team member who just needs to know someone’s there.

These posters connect directly to real support:
• Free/discounted therapy
• Confidential help
• Retreat + reset days

👉 If you want one for your space, DM me or reach out.
I’ll personally make sure it gets to you.

Let’s get these into every kitchen that needs it.

03/26/2026

Grateful to join Toni Reece on WEEU Radio to talk about the mission behind Yes, Chef: Behind the Apron.

More clips dropping this weekend + next week — stay tuned!

02/24/2026

At our 2026 Aprons Off Retreat, chefs gathered for more than a day away.
They shared a table.
They journaled.
They breathed.
They received therapy.
They listened to sound healing.
They connected without ego, without hierarchy — just humans.

One chef called it “career-changing.”
Another hasn’t taken off the bracelet since.

This is why we do it.

Because when we take care of the people who feed our communities, everyone wins.

Grateful for our partners — Copperhouse Events, Nickischer & Associates, Arc of Sound, and Roey Ebert Art — who helped make the day powerful and safe.

If you believe chefs deserve support, access to therapy, and moments to reset…
Stay with us.
Support the mission.
Nominate a chef.
Become a partner.

Yes, Chef! Behind the Apron™️
Serving the hospitality industry — beyond the kitchen.

02/10/2026

Yesterday wasn’t about productivity.
It was about permission.
To exhale. To be seen. To rest without guilt.
Watching these humans finally slow down, soften, and reconnect reminded me why this work matters.
This is what care looks like. This is what impact feels like.

Our partners:

02/08/2026

✨ Tomorrow is the day. ✨

We’re officially FULL and so excited to welcome an incredible group of chefs and hospitality professionals to our 2nd Yes, Chef! Behind the Apron™️ RETREAT at Copper House Event Center.

This retreat is about pause, care, connection, and being poured into — for the people who spend their lives pouring into others.

Deep gratitude to our sponsors who make this work possible and help us show up in a big, meaningful way. 🤍

Let’s do this. 🖤🍳

02/04/2026

NEED YOUR INPUT 🙂
COMING SOON 🍽️

👉 Would you buy a seasonal Pantry Bag like this?
👉 Would you pre-order if it supported a local chef + a meaningful cause?

We’re exploring a new seasonal fundraiser — and before we build it, we want to hear from you.
Yes, Chef! Behind the Apron™️ (Non-Profit) is developing seasonal Pantry Bags that spotlight the incredible chefs of the Lehigh Valley while directly supporting mental health resources for those working in hospitality.
Here’s the vision:
👜 Behind the Apron: The Pantry Bag
• One chef. One recipe.
• Pre-ordered + delivered on one set day
• Seasonal drops (4x per year)
• Starting with 4–6 different chef pantry bags per season
Each Pantry Bag would include:
✔️ A chef-created meal recipe card w/pics
✔️ Ingredients to make the meal (serves 2-4)
✔️ The chef’s story — behind the apron
✔️ The mission of Yes, Chef! Behind the Apron™️
✔️ Coupons, gift cards, and partner perks

It’s a way to support the people who feed our community — and help fund accessible mental health support for chefs and hospitality workers.

Drop a YES, a 🍝, or comment with what season or type of cuisine you’d love to see first.
Your feedback helps shape what we build next.
Thank you for supporting the people behind the apron. ❤️

01/14/2026

You show up.
Even when it’s heavy.
Even when no one asks how you are doing.

This bracelet is a reminder that you are heard.

Every You Are Heard bracelet supports mental health resources for chefs and hospitality workers through Yes, Chef! Behind the Apron™️.

It’s not just something you wear.
It’s something you stand for.

🖤💛
100% of proceeds go directly back to hospitality mental health through Yes, Chef! Behind the Apron™️

👉 Get yours here: https://bit.ly/YCBAHeard

MERCH THAT MATTERS - Yes, Chef! Behind the Apron